This is the primary duty of the Elected President. Probably the only executive duty he is expected to perform in a time of great crisis. The rest of his roles are mainly ceremonial and rubber stamping of what ever the govt wants him to stamp.
So, how important and effective will an Elected President hold himself as the last man in the defense of the nation’s reserves? It may be useful to understand what is a rogue govt to start with. A rogue govt is not just a bunch of rogue politicians, all 87 of them in Parliament at most. A rogue govt is not just all 87 MPs plus all their crony party members.
A rogue govt, if it is called a govt, must be all the civil servants, military and police personnel in cahoot with the ruling party. Only then can a rogue govt be formed to capture all the powers of a country and run the country as it likes, and to empty the treasury.
In the face of a rogue govt presenting the Elected President and his team of Presidential Advisers with an ultimatum,, and the rogue govt simply says, sign on the dotted line, what can an Elected President do? Can he say no?
Then again, it is unlikely that a rogue govt can be formed and get to that stage when all the civil servants, military and police personnel are with the rogue govt to do its biddings. An Elected President can only be effective if he can preempt the whole development, before a govt shows its greedy face that it is a rogue govt, and still has the civil servants and uniformed men on his side.
The critical point is when and how would the Elected President know that he has to act? Would he act if say an alternative party wins the majority in the next election to form the govt? Would the EP decide at that moment when a new govt is formed, that it is a rogue govt and call in the troops? Or would he wait till the day when the rogue govt reveals itself by asking him to sign on the dotted line?
To be effective, the EP must jump the gun. If not, he will not stand a chance when the day comes.
7/01/2011
6/30/2011
Cannot anyhow give yourself big titles
Property agents will now not be allowed to give themselves big titles like specialists or experts. It is timely that such a regulation is imposed to prevent more frivolous titles from being created. If not, soon some agents may call themselves Emeritus Property Specialists. Now, that would not look good right?
Titles are important to important people. Low down tradesmen or agents need to be put in their place. Unlike the professionals and high positions, these people should be given nice nice titles that they deserved. In the past, a Chief Clerk was the top administrator or manager in on office. Today, even a clerk will frown on being called a clerk. Some then invented titles like Administrative Assistant or Clerical Officer to stop calling them as clerks. Companies advertising for clerks will have problems recruiting the better qualified job seekers. I wonder if they can use better titles like Administrative Specialists, or is this going to be banned? I remember in Australia they called rubbish collectors Sanitary Specialists or Environment Specialists, or something like that, and the job pays very well too.
Then in some industries, executives are now rebranded as managers. And managers are called Vice Presidents, and GMs become Presidents. I think this must be stopped as well. How can there be so many Presidents, and even Senior Presidents. Next time they may have Distinguished Presidents or Emeritus Presidents or Emeritus Chairman as well. But the crucial title and most confusing is the title of President.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President of Singapore.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President of Ah Kow Refuse Removal Company.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President of Muthu Securities Agency.
It is high time more of such regulations be introduced to let the people know the do’s and don’t and what they can do and what they cannot do. And fine them if they anyhow abuse these titles. We need to erect more U Turn and No U Turn signs.
But one door must be closed quickly. The Registry of Birth Certificates must be informed to stop people who anyhow give names to their babies. No one can be named Specialist, Expert, Prince, President, Emeritus, Eminence, Highness, etc etc. Otherwise some may use this loophole to call their children Specialist Tan, Expert Lee, Prince Ahmad, President Sammy and nothing can be done to them.
Sure we don’t want to have people walking around in the streets and everyone yelling ‘Hi President, hi Prince, hi specialist, hi Eminence!’
We need more regulations before people become crazy with all kinds of grand titles.
Oh, I forgot, there is one title that the property agents or anyone can buy and wear, and put Dr in front of their names. How ah?
Titles are important to important people. Low down tradesmen or agents need to be put in their place. Unlike the professionals and high positions, these people should be given nice nice titles that they deserved. In the past, a Chief Clerk was the top administrator or manager in on office. Today, even a clerk will frown on being called a clerk. Some then invented titles like Administrative Assistant or Clerical Officer to stop calling them as clerks. Companies advertising for clerks will have problems recruiting the better qualified job seekers. I wonder if they can use better titles like Administrative Specialists, or is this going to be banned? I remember in Australia they called rubbish collectors Sanitary Specialists or Environment Specialists, or something like that, and the job pays very well too.
Then in some industries, executives are now rebranded as managers. And managers are called Vice Presidents, and GMs become Presidents. I think this must be stopped as well. How can there be so many Presidents, and even Senior Presidents. Next time they may have Distinguished Presidents or Emeritus Presidents or Emeritus Chairman as well. But the crucial title and most confusing is the title of President.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President of Singapore.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President of Ah Kow Refuse Removal Company.
Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the President of Muthu Securities Agency.
It is high time more of such regulations be introduced to let the people know the do’s and don’t and what they can do and what they cannot do. And fine them if they anyhow abuse these titles. We need to erect more U Turn and No U Turn signs.
But one door must be closed quickly. The Registry of Birth Certificates must be informed to stop people who anyhow give names to their babies. No one can be named Specialist, Expert, Prince, President, Emeritus, Eminence, Highness, etc etc. Otherwise some may use this loophole to call their children Specialist Tan, Expert Lee, Prince Ahmad, President Sammy and nothing can be done to them.
Sure we don’t want to have people walking around in the streets and everyone yelling ‘Hi President, hi Prince, hi specialist, hi Eminence!’
We need more regulations before people become crazy with all kinds of grand titles.
Oh, I forgot, there is one title that the property agents or anyone can buy and wear, and put Dr in front of their names. How ah?
The Spirit of President Ong Teng Cheong
He was The President that wanted to do his job well. And he stood firmly on his belief, and did not waver under pressure. He gave up everything to live by the principles he believed in. He could have done otherwise and be better recorded in the history books of Singapore, and given a state funeral.
Today, there are not many glamorous reports or write ups of this son of Singapore, a great man, a highly respected President in the eyes of many Singaporeans. Many people have spoken very highly of him in private. Somehow there is a dearth of reports praising the works that he had done. An uncomfortable silence. Who knows, in the not too distant future, history may all be rewritten, and President Ong Teng Cheong will be elevated to the honourable and rightful place he deserved in the history of this island.
While the contest for the Presidency is hotting up, Teng Cheong should be remembered as the shining example of what an elected President is expected to be, and to be emulated. In the hearts of many Singaporeans, he was and is their President, and the best Elected President the country has ever had. He is the President that lives quietly in the hearts of the people. All Elected Presidents will be measured against Teng Cheong and whether they live up to his high standard of Presidency, or whether they live up to the Ong Teng Cheong Spirit.
RIP.
Today, there are not many glamorous reports or write ups of this son of Singapore, a great man, a highly respected President in the eyes of many Singaporeans. Many people have spoken very highly of him in private. Somehow there is a dearth of reports praising the works that he had done. An uncomfortable silence. Who knows, in the not too distant future, history may all be rewritten, and President Ong Teng Cheong will be elevated to the honourable and rightful place he deserved in the history of this island.
While the contest for the Presidency is hotting up, Teng Cheong should be remembered as the shining example of what an elected President is expected to be, and to be emulated. In the hearts of many Singaporeans, he was and is their President, and the best Elected President the country has ever had. He is the President that lives quietly in the hearts of the people. All Elected Presidents will be measured against Teng Cheong and whether they live up to his high standard of Presidency, or whether they live up to the Ong Teng Cheong Spirit.
RIP.
6/29/2011
How to control a foreign country
The US is an expert in controlling, manipulating and putting pressure on foreign countries and running them like their colonies without them knowing. All they need to do is to set up watchlists and ranking countries according to its own list of criteria and morality. It then sends a list of questions to these unknowing colonies to reply. And the ‘colonies’ though independent countries, obediently do so. And if they are not on the good books of the US, the US could exert pressure on them by pushing them down the ranking, to embarrass and pressurize them.
Among the great American watch lists are the Trafficking in Persons or TIP Report, the Human Rights Reports and the Press Freedom Reports. Singapore is the latest victim of the TIP Report, with the US branding it as a culprit in human trafficking. After obediently submitting its reports to the Empire, it is now furiously defending its rights against the wrongful accusations by the US. And after hitting back at the atrocious human trafficking records, the US sheepishly acknowledged that its own house was also in a mess. But it still graded itself as the purest of the lot and ranked the best. It also admitted that the reports were flawed and carelessly compiled placing rogue countries as better than innocent countries. Bloody Americans!
The US has usurped the role of the UN and other legitimate bodies by issuing such watch lists and rankings to abuse its enemies and to serve its political agenda. Actually countries of the world need not bother with the wolves in sheep skin. Let them report whatever they want. Just simply ignore them. Countries like China should just show the US the middle finger. But countries that want to be on the good book of the US, especially the semi colonies, better take such reports seriously, or else.
A better response by the victims of these outrageous American reports is for these countries to organize themselves, pool their resources, and set up their own reports and watch lists. Then send the questionnaires to all the countries, including the US, and demand that they fill the forms and reply. If they don’t, just rank them at the bottom of the list, for non compliance and an admission of guilt. That is the only way to embarrass the Americans and turn the table on them. It is another way to control the Empire instead of being controlled by the Empire.
Of course the Empire can ignore the reports, and the western media may not report on them or try to rubbish the reports. But there are many other media that will report on them. And the reports and watch lists can be tabled at the UN as an annual event in the UN’s agenda for dirty laundry washing. Why should it be just one way like it is now?
I think Singapore should take the lead, and lead the bullied countries against the Empire, and be a leader, a shining light to the world, to hit above its weight.
Among the great American watch lists are the Trafficking in Persons or TIP Report, the Human Rights Reports and the Press Freedom Reports. Singapore is the latest victim of the TIP Report, with the US branding it as a culprit in human trafficking. After obediently submitting its reports to the Empire, it is now furiously defending its rights against the wrongful accusations by the US. And after hitting back at the atrocious human trafficking records, the US sheepishly acknowledged that its own house was also in a mess. But it still graded itself as the purest of the lot and ranked the best. It also admitted that the reports were flawed and carelessly compiled placing rogue countries as better than innocent countries. Bloody Americans!
The US has usurped the role of the UN and other legitimate bodies by issuing such watch lists and rankings to abuse its enemies and to serve its political agenda. Actually countries of the world need not bother with the wolves in sheep skin. Let them report whatever they want. Just simply ignore them. Countries like China should just show the US the middle finger. But countries that want to be on the good book of the US, especially the semi colonies, better take such reports seriously, or else.
A better response by the victims of these outrageous American reports is for these countries to organize themselves, pool their resources, and set up their own reports and watch lists. Then send the questionnaires to all the countries, including the US, and demand that they fill the forms and reply. If they don’t, just rank them at the bottom of the list, for non compliance and an admission of guilt. That is the only way to embarrass the Americans and turn the table on them. It is another way to control the Empire instead of being controlled by the Empire.
Of course the Empire can ignore the reports, and the western media may not report on them or try to rubbish the reports. But there are many other media that will report on them. And the reports and watch lists can be tabled at the UN as an annual event in the UN’s agenda for dirty laundry washing. Why should it be just one way like it is now?
I think Singapore should take the lead, and lead the bullied countries against the Empire, and be a leader, a shining light to the world, to hit above its weight.
Some embarrassing questions for Parliament
When the next Parliament begins its session, there must be plenty of questions that could be asked by the MPs. Hopefully the investigations into the two objections during the GE are settled by then, otherwise, the disqualification of the opposition team in Tanjong Pagar GRC and the police report of Tin Pei Ling’s internet postings will get a hearing, I think.
I have read some articles in the internet forum questioning the roles of LKY and Chok Tong as MPs, or more than that. Questions that bloggers were asking are the staff attached to them like principal private secretaries and press secretaries and the cost associate to the two MPs. The people may be curious to want to know if the two MPs are serving the people by holding meet the people sessions like all MPs are doing. These are definitely issues of public interest as tax payers money are involved.
Some are asking how much they are getting which I think is superfluous. As MPs they should be collecting the same MP allowances plus the pensions computed from their last highest salaries. I think this is also applicable to those ministers who are now MPs.
To avoid people making all kinds of guesses and unpleasant comments, and to preempt the opposition parties from asking embarrassing questions, maybe it will be better for Hsien Loong to make a press statements to clarify these matters. And if there are special privileges extended to them, just say it with justifications and I am sure the people will understand and accept it. Transparency in such things will kill all the gossips for good.
Of course there will be many other questions that the new MPs would be eager to ask in Parliaments to enlighten themselves and the curiosity of the people. The protocol list will be quite amusing. Will the ex MM/MP and ESM/MP be in the same grouping with Hsien Loong and the ministers when receiving foreign dignitaries? Or will they queue at the tail end with the MPs? Where will they sit in Parliament, in the back rows like back benchers?
These are very interesting developments in our political scene.
I have read some articles in the internet forum questioning the roles of LKY and Chok Tong as MPs, or more than that. Questions that bloggers were asking are the staff attached to them like principal private secretaries and press secretaries and the cost associate to the two MPs. The people may be curious to want to know if the two MPs are serving the people by holding meet the people sessions like all MPs are doing. These are definitely issues of public interest as tax payers money are involved.
Some are asking how much they are getting which I think is superfluous. As MPs they should be collecting the same MP allowances plus the pensions computed from their last highest salaries. I think this is also applicable to those ministers who are now MPs.
To avoid people making all kinds of guesses and unpleasant comments, and to preempt the opposition parties from asking embarrassing questions, maybe it will be better for Hsien Loong to make a press statements to clarify these matters. And if there are special privileges extended to them, just say it with justifications and I am sure the people will understand and accept it. Transparency in such things will kill all the gossips for good.
Of course there will be many other questions that the new MPs would be eager to ask in Parliaments to enlighten themselves and the curiosity of the people. The protocol list will be quite amusing. Will the ex MM/MP and ESM/MP be in the same grouping with Hsien Loong and the ministers when receiving foreign dignitaries? Or will they queue at the tail end with the MPs? Where will they sit in Parliament, in the back rows like back benchers?
These are very interesting developments in our political scene.
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